Poster "Dave", directly above, is exactly correct.
Actually, while following the late Ms. Allen's story over the years, I
wish the coverage had more emphasized her being the victim of a
(nearly) life-long illness, rather than always focussing on that
condition's most conspicuous consequence (i.e., her record-setting
tallness).
I mean, it was nothing larger than a pituitary tumor which caused her
profound plight, which to her everlasting credit she seemed to deal
with remarkable poise and dignity.
While anatomy has never been my strong suit, is it not true that the
pituitary gland is about the side of a pod's pea? And if that's the
case, the tumor (assuming it was of her pituitary, rather than merely
adjacent to it) was likely tiny, yet with virtual life-ruining
capacity.
Of course, the uncomfortable but necessary reality all of us should
behold is that it could just as easily been you or me...and I, for
one, could surely never have dealt with such an affliction with the
grace routinely displayed by Ms. Allen.
Sincerely,
BRYAN STYBLE/Seattle
|
